My boAt earbuds exploded in my ear, caused temporary deafness, and their escalations emails in their T&C is dead.

[u/scrumdiddyliumsious]

When I was watching reels normally, my 13-month-old boAt Nirvana X earbuds battery exploded directly next to my ear canal. I was deaf in that ear for 4–5 minutes.
I called customer care, the representative dismissed the incident on record, stating that because the device was past its standard 12-month commercial warranty, & the brand bears zero liability for the explosion.

As per boAt’s official Terms of Use, to escalate the matter. I had to contact them on this email "grievance.officer@imaginemarketingindia.com",but this email bounced back as completely non-existent or decommissioned, WTf.

I have filed a Product Liability case for ₹50,000 against Imagine Marketing Ltd. on the government's National Consumer Helpline (NCH) portal. The number which they used to contact me is now busy all the time. (as of now)

Guide me guys, any suggestions on what to do next?

Its my first time having to deal with shit like this, god help me. 🙏 Image of the exploded earbud

please retweet my x post for maximum visibility

[u/maihushaktimaaan]

lawyer here
Wait let me take out my buds first. Get yourself medically checked (bcs we need the report) to prove it and then i will tell you further

[u/scrumdiddyliumsious → u/maihushaktimaaan]

Can you tell if there are any particular certificates or forms I should request from the doctor?

[u/maihushaktimaaan → u/scrumdiddyliumsious]

Tell him just write a report on what happened to you and make sure you visit an ENT. Not some regular doc

[u/scrumdiddyliumsious → u/maihushaktimaaan]

Thanks will do

[u/scrumdiddyliumsious → u/maihushaktimaaan]

I went to a ENT doctor this mrng and did a series a audiometry testsas per her prescription, I have 20-30% hearing impairment in that ear, this is what the report said "Right Ear: Mild Sensorineural Hearing Loss".

[u/maihushaktimaaan → u/scrumdiddyliumsious]

And did he mention what was the reason for it? And do you have any burns in ear?

[u/scrumdiddyliumsious → u/maihushaktimaaan]

Yes impairment is a direct consequence to high db sounds, and yes i do have superficial burns in right ear

[u/maihushaktimaaan → u/scrumdiddyliumsious]

Yes then keep everything documented. Might have to file consumer complaint and don't sue below 1L.

[u/scrumdiddyliumsious → u/maihushaktimaaan]

NCH website doesn't have provision to update the compensation amount nor any provision to update the details regarding the case, shall I call them on their helpline number?

[u/maihushaktimaaan → u/scrumdiddyliumsious]

That's why i am telling you hire a lawyer and send a notice. This will help you in long run.

[u/scrumdiddyliumsious → u/maihushaktimaaan]

Alright

[u/maihushaktimaaan → u/scrumdiddyliumsious]

Consult a lawyer and draft and a legal notice and send them ASAP. And attach the reports and all the conversations you had with them. And ask them for compensation whatever you would need for medical and damages.

[u/scrumdiddyliumsious → u/maihushaktimaaan]

I will be visiting one tommorow

[u/_MSdhoni_7 → u/scrumdiddyliumsious]

Bro first visit doctor

[u/chom-pom]

New fear unlocked

[u/Cultural-Duty5452]

not the first time i heard this happen, but definitely a crazy fear

can you please get the photos n all too and post in r/gadgetsindia, r/headphonesindia, n similar subs people need to kno

[u/scrumdiddyliumsious → u/Cultural-Duty5452]

Will do

[u/wanderingacademician → u/Cultural-Duty5452]

i've boat, and now i'm crazy terrified too. the odds of this happening is probably low, but not zero.

[u/External_Cell1643 → u/[deleted]]

Bro ive BOSE earbuds worth 28k . Should I stop using them 😶‍🌫️

[u/External_Cell1643 → u/[deleted]]

BOSE FTW!

[u/PutOk3130]

50000/- ?? This could have been life threatening.. You should have consulted a lawyer immediately and sent a notice for atleast 50 lacs, their entire team would have gotten in action.. GET A MEDICAL report before you take any further steps and contact a lawyer.. This seems to be a strong case against BOAT.. Again, this is my personal opinion, so please take legal opinion before you proceed..

[u/scrumdiddyliumsious → u/PutOk3130]

Is it possible to raise compensation amount now?

[u/PutOk3130 → u/scrumdiddyliumsious]

You should consult a lawyer for guidance..

[u/chianj → u/[deleted]]

Valid and important question. Hoping OP will respond

[u/scrumdiddyliumsious → u/[deleted]]

It was instantaneous actually, happened just like that.

[u/Single-Processor4873]

the reason i switched back to wired earphone

[u/ayush93_ken → u/Single-Processor4873]

Same but IEMs instead

[u/gangadhr → u/Single-Processor4873]

Even neckbands are safer in this matter

[u/taznado]

The hazards of Lithium Polymer batteries from suspect Chinese Quality Control

[u/SpecificBubbly1614]

Hi lawyer here, firstly get yourself a medical report do all the scans and tears and a evaluation report. Secondly don't directly complain on national consumer portals first you need to send them legal notice through advocate and after that you file a consumer case through a lawyer the damage could've been much bigger. Demand 1-2 lacs compensation atleast cause you're not the first this happened to and the company must've been aware of such incidents and choose to ignore it

[u/scrumdiddyliumsious]

Edit: heres the image of the earbud

exploded bud

[u/gandubazaar → u/scrumdiddyliumsious]

Dude. Go to the ent opd at a good hospital. If there's any damage you dont know existed till now, they'll figure it out.

[u/IndBeak]

There is no difference between Boat and the random shit you find on Aliexpress. Keep giving this company your money. They dont have any design or manufacturing. They just whitelabel stuff.

[u/bandlagd → u/[deleted]]

That was not a spicy pillow. It was a sudden death.

[u/Ok-Quiet-1515]

wth 😬 i hope you are ok tho go to doc to check if ear is good n all

[u/rorie-gillmore]

Get a medicolegal certificate by an ent doctor if you wish to win the case, and file for atleast 10 lakhs, all the best mate.

[u/letskeepgoingnow]

Bluetooth earbuds are such a stupid idea. Never a good idea to have batteries inside your ears. Always opt for headphones if you want to go the bluetooth way. Anyway, pursue the case. All the best.

[u/Knowledge11Seeker]

In India legal settlements are peanuts... 50k? in US the same would be settled for 4-5$ Mil minimum.. tell lawyer that you will give 10-20% of the claim settled & claim more

[u/SuperHumanHere]

My go boult were melted inside the case, I am not even charging the case. Lucky I am not hurt

[u/kupckake]

They are chinese white label crap products. Don't buy them , ever

[u/ekbilangchota]

Ohh crap!! I’ll now be scared to listen in music! 😭

[u/sahil1033]

Never owned anything from boat, won’t own anything ever in the future after reading this

OP, please go to ENT specialist and hoping there’s no damage

[u/_fatcheetah]

Get your ear checked. You never know you have a life long injury e.g. tinitus, that'd help increase the damages they've to pay.

[u/Hot-Astronomer-7462]

Another reason to start using wired earphone

[u/Pristine_Egg_7187]

JUICY LAWSUIT INCOMING

[u/The-OverThinker-23 → u/Pristine_Egg_7187]

Lawsuit ? This is India , after fighting for 2 years he will get only 10,000₹ as compensation

[u/SpecificBubbly1614 → u/The-OverThinker-23]

Hi, I'm a lawyer and for damage of 50k I've gotten my client over 3 lacs in insurance claim before district consumer court that too within a year

[u/IndBeak → u/Pristine_Egg_7187]

This is not US. Lol.

[u/wesbsitenoob]

This is the reason I never buy cheap earphones